The Avengers Forever: Fan Tales

	Fan Tales Page 4 of 9

Francis Hui Meets Linda Thorson

On Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago of 1990, I had a nice opportunity. Visions '90 was being held here. It was a convention celebrating British sci-fi/fantasy programming. Among the notables were Jon Pertwee and Sylvester McCoy of Doctor Who fame, stars from Robin Hood, Blake's 7, and two people representing The Avengers, Dave Rogers and Linda Thorson. Being a poor, struggling, untraveled student at the time, I knew this would probably be my only chance to have a legitimate conversation with one of the stars. Earlier that year I did get to meet a most congenial Patrick Macnee at a book signing for his autobiography, but that was only for a brief few minutes.

So, I hopped on the train to the Hyatt Regency O'Hare hotel and waited for the panel the two were conducting. I was pleased that there were at least a few hundred packed into the room. The majority of questions were addressed to her. It was very interesting getting her perspective of that time in the series as well as some insight into her co-workers. The highlights of this talk included the following:

She recounted that her relationship with the press had its pressures not only just from being the new girl, but also because she was kept under wraps for some time, and there was a perception of her being "Garbo-esque."

Her favorite episode on was, surprisingly, "Pandora." This came from the perspective of an actor. That episode gave her a chance to play something different from the rest of the series.

She brought up an anecdote when she asked Albert "Cubby" Broccoli as to why she was the one Avengers star not to become a "Bond girl." His reply was, "You don't have long hair."

In recounting her relationship with the producers, she had very warm and loving things to say about Albert Fennell and how he treated her, and she showed sadness on his passing. In contrast, she made it clear she and Brian Clemens had a strained relationship, and there was no love lost between them.

Back then, when an Avengers movie was talked about, she expressed reservations about its viability. She felt, as many that have said today, that it was a show of its time and that it really belongs in the 60's era—it wouldn't quite fit right in the 90's.

Perhaps the most telling insight was about Patrick Macnee. Although she remains good friends with him, she described a character flaw of his that explains a noticeable air in his biographies. She said that Macnee is somewhat of a "people pleaser," and in interviews he sometimes tends to tell people what they want to hear. On one such interview he said some horrible things about her and it was only being aware of this trait that she let it pass.

Later, I got a photo with her and her autograph on some stills I'd brought, including one from "Pandora," coincidentally enough. She was unquestionably tall and towered over me, but also still very beautiful. I managed to personally discuss her theater work, which included originating one of the leads on Broadway of the show Noises Off (which is a hilarious stage show). All in all, she was a very lovely and upfront person!